MORNING READ

The Bush administration’s announcement of a new missile defense deal with Poland as Russia is waging war splits bloggers, who see it as appropriate or rash. John McCain’s response to the Russia-Georgia situation has also gone too far for liberal bloggers. And the Republican is taking heat from singer-songwriter Jackson Browne, who doesn’t want him to use one of his songs, bloggers note.

With the missile defense deal, Poland will have expectations that the United States will provide security against Russian aggression, writes Hot Air’s Allahpundit. Those expectations will force Democrats, the likely party in power for the next few years, to decide whether they’re willing to stand up to the Kremlin, the blogger adds. But the announcement of the missile deal now will merely provoke Russia and won’t help reduce tensions in the Caucusus, writes Jeralyn at TalkLeft.

McCain, in responding to the Georgian crisis, has gone far beyond what’s appropriate for a normal presidential candidate by working against the efforts of the current president, sending his own diplomatic delegation and staying in phone contact with the crisis’s key players, writes Josh Marshall at TalkingPointsMemo. But McCain’s response will become his closing argument against Barack Obama, since it will highlight the Republican’s experience and Obama’s naivete more than any ad about celebrity would, according to The Next Right’s Patrick Ruffini.

Browne is suing McCain for using “Running on Empty” in a campaign ad, even though the spot in question was produced by the Ohio Republican Party, notes Geoff Boucher at Top of the Ticket. Browne, however, is at least showing self-respect, writes Firedoglake’s Attaturk, who suggests that the artist call House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to tell her what it feels like to stand up for oneself.

FROM THE BLOGS:
How Does Missile Defense Sound? – Allahpundit, Hot Air
Context: U.S. Strikes Missile Deal With Poland – Jeralyn, TalkLeft
The Difference Between U.S. and Russia – C.P. Liebau, Townhall.com
Georgia as The New Celeb – Patrick Ruffini, The Next Right
The Washington Squares – Attaturk, Firedoglake
More Like It – Josh Marshall, TalkingPointsMemo
McCain Proves Dangerous to U.S. Interests – Taylor Marsh
Browne Sues McCain – G. Boucher, Top of the Ticket
Browne V. GOP and McCain – Eureka Springs, Firedoglake
Browne Sues GOP and McCain Campaign – Sam Stein, HuffPo

OTHER NEWS SOURCES:
Donors Pick Up Convention Tab – USA Today
Russia Enraged By Poland Deal – New York Times
GOP Loyalty Not a Given for Evangelicals – Washington Post